Phoenix Girl Re-Lit

I am tired of the taste of ash,
and numbness in my once audacious wings.
Dear stars, give me the strength to burn.

Remind me I’m more than my most recent crash,
how it’s only in the air that my spirit sings.
Singing feels so much better than taste of ash.

I know that again to risk is again to learn
even the most glorious flights have their end.
But, dear stars, lend me your strength to burn.

Though my heart had splintered in that last crash
and know a fall follows every rising, I can’t pretend
there is any comfort in the taste of ash.

Sorrow will always come along, often unearned,
making it vital to revel in every way delight extends.
My dear stars, I can't bear not to burn.

Though joy can vanish in a flash,
I want my fire to return.
I'm so tired of the taste of ash,
Please, stars, give me the strength to burn.



Song Choice: Carry On by Fun

Liner Notes for this Groove: This poem was created for the Friday Writings prompt at Poets and Storytellers United, To Burn. 
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27 comments:

  1. Debra She Who SeeksAugust 4, 2022 at 9:58 PM

    Wonderful! The phoenix is such a powerful symbol.

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    1. RommyAugust 5, 2022 at 10:42 AM

      It's one of my favorite mythological critters

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  2. RajaniAugust 5, 2022 at 12:11 AM

    know a fall follows every rising... that resonates deeply... to know and yet to strive on, that's the secret and the challenge.

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  3. Rosemary Nissen-WadeAugust 5, 2022 at 2:41 AM

    There is often so much fire in your poetry! I love it. (But I am going nuts trying to figure out what form this is. Not quite a villanelle, not quite a terzanelle ... some other variant? I expect you'll tell me and I'll go, 'Duh! Of course! I should have known.')

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    1. RommyAugust 5, 2022 at 10:48 AM

      LOL... you're close. It's a failed attempt at a villanelle! I wanted to write one when I saw how brilliantly a friend of mine handled it in one of her latest pieces. So I read up on a few, tried a couple of rhyme schemes, made a whole lot of faces, and read a few more. I finally found an example labelled as a villanelle where the first and third lines didn't rhyme, and varied up what I called the "sandwiched rhyme". Mine still isn't anywhere near as good as that one was. But I spent all afternoon pacing and fretting over rhyme-schemes that I pulled some weird muscle in my inner thigh. :D I decided to just go with my almost villanelle at that point.

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  4. AnonymousAugust 5, 2022 at 6:19 AM

    A lot of fowls caught in our grass and forest fure have been sobbing this song. Similar but different the ending for the four-legged wildlife as well.
    Good job and thanks for the neat writing prompt.
    ..
    Jim,
    jimmiehov6.blogspot.com
    ..

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  5. Samyuktha Semi JayaprakashAugust 5, 2022 at 8:32 AM

    So beautiful!

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  6. colleenAugust 5, 2022 at 10:05 AM

    Oh to rise and fly. Our poems go together well today.

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  7. HelenAugust 5, 2022 at 11:00 AM

    A Phoenix rising gives one hope ... I love your 'almost' villanelle. We have wildfires burning all around Central Oregon, some days worse than others, today seems to be a good day. When the sun is hazed over, one knows not to do strenuous outdoor exercise.

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    1. RommyAugust 6, 2022 at 10:17 AM

      I'm glad the you are having a good day there. I've been listening to news reports about the wildfires on NPR and it's just so horrifying.

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  8. Debi SwimAugust 5, 2022 at 4:19 PM

    "I'm so tired of the taste of ash,
    Please, stars, give me the strength to burn." I love the repetition of these lines. They are powerful and so relatable.

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    1. RommyAugust 6, 2022 at 10:19 AM

      Thanks, Debi. I haven't done too much with forms that repeat lines like this. It was an interesting experiment to try.

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  9. Penelope NotesAugust 6, 2022 at 10:33 AM

    You expressed the "glorious" side of burning beautifully and sadly since along with the flames comes the ash.

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    1. RommyAugust 7, 2022 at 8:56 AM

      Thank you Penelope. It was important to me to get both aspects in there.

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  10. Gillena CoxAugust 6, 2022 at 10:55 AM

    Indeed our strength lies in getting back up and moving forward again. Luv this plea to the stars shining bright
    Thanks for dropping by to read mine

    much 💖 love

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    1. RommyAugust 7, 2022 at 8:57 AM

      Thanks Gillena. Hope your Sunday is peaceful.

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  11. dsnake1August 6, 2022 at 12:36 PM

    I like the refrain "strength to burn".
    It is an interesting form you have penned. I thought it was a variation of a ghazal :)

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    1. RommyAugust 7, 2022 at 9:00 AM

      No, just me flailing and trying to pull off a villanelle. But I may try a ghazal at some point too.

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  12. pearl ketover prilikAugust 10, 2022 at 2:14 PM

    Oh my goodness - this one grabbed me in the gut... so sick of the taste of ash.. yes.. my goodness.. oh yes.. I resonate so with this one... Powerful in its despair and desire.

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  13. jossinaAugust 12, 2022 at 10:08 AM

    A beautiful prayer, life is to live daringly. So well written

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  14. purplepeninportland.comAugust 12, 2022 at 8:56 PM

    Tired of the taste of ash says so much about life. I can taste it now.
    I love the plea to the stars.

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  15. Magaly GuerreroAugust 19, 2022 at 8:54 AM

    There is immense power (and freedom) in knowing that better things might come. Some days, it's all that keeps us going. And yes, by "we" I meant me.

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  16. Laura MorriganSeptember 12, 2022 at 10:50 PM

    Amazing!

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